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SMS Country Information Guide: North America

Canada

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

  • Transactional SMS: Toll Free Number

  • Promotional SMS: Toll Free Number

  • Two-Way Conversations: SMS with Toll Free Number

Sender Types Supported

  • Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): No

  • Canada Phone Number: Yes

  • Canada Short Code: Yes

  • International Phone Number: No

  • Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

  • Operator Registration Required: No

  • Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)

  • Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 20:00-08:00)

Additional Notes

  • Also supported: Short Codes, SMS Local Numbers (for testing only)

Opt-out Rules

  • Transactional traffic: Opt-out required. Stop language should be included in all registration messages

  • Promotional traffic: Opt-out required. Stop language must be included in all registration messages

Mexico

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

  • Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

  • Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

  • Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

  • Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

  • Mexico Phone Number: Yes

  • Mexico Short Code: Yes

  • International Phone Number: No

  • Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

  • Operator Registration Required: Yes

  • Generic URL Shortening: Yes

  • Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes

    • Monday-Thursday: 20:00-08:00

    • Friday-Sunday: 20:00-18:00

Additional Notes

  • Promotional traffic allowed only from 08:00-18:00 local time

  • Without a registered Alphanumeric Sender ID, messages default to a Shared Short Code (or your Dedicated Short Code if you have one)

  • Alpha Sender registration fee: $350 USD monthly if sending fewer than 100K messages per month

  • Two-way messaging available via dedicated short codes, but using your own WhatsApp number may be more cost-effective

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

United States of America

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

  • Transactional SMS: Toll Free Long Code (Phone Number)

  • Promotional SMS: Toll Free Long Code (Phone Number)

  • Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way Toll Free Long Code

Sender Types Supported

  • Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): No

  • US Phone Number: Yes

  • US Short Code: Yes

  • International Phone Number: No

  • Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

  • Operator Registration Required: Yes

  • Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)

  • Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 20:00-09:00)

Additional Notes

  • Also supported: US 10DLC, Toll Free Numbers

  • See country-specific page for more information about short codes

Opt-out Rules

  • Transactional traffic: Opt-out required. Stop language should be included in all registration messages

  • Promotional traffic: Opt-out required. Stop language must be included in all registration messages

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